Dodge’s new take on the compact sedan is here, and it’s wearing an old name, but on new, Alfa Romeo-derived hardware, and it will be built in the U.S. Previewed today ahead of its official debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the Dart seeks to hit a trifecta of small-car goals, with unique styling, high gas mileage, and sporty performance. To do… Here is the original post: 2013 Dodge Dart: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview

Dodge will resurrect the Dart name for its new Alfa Romeo-based compact car, set to debut at next month’s Detroit Auto Show . The Dart will be the first Alfa Romeo-based Chrysler production car introduced in the United States. Arrivederci Caliber! More » Excerpt from: 2013 Dodge Dart is the new Dodge Caliber [Dodge Dart] See the original post here:  2013 Dodge Dart is the new Dodge Caliber [Dodge Dart]

This is the Morning Shift , our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that’s actually important — all in one place at 9:00 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parcel it out to you one story at a time. Isn’t your time more important? More » Read more here: BP says Halliburton ‘destroyed’ Gulf spill evidence, owners seek Volt repurchase, and Ford searches for next CEO [Video] Original post: BP says Halliburton ‘destroyed’ Gulf spill evidence, owners seek Volt repurchase, and Ford searches for next CEO [Video]

The word “Hemi” has become synonymous with horsepower and muscle cars. It’s a point of pride to Mopar aficionados who gladly pop their cars’ hoods to show off those four letters atop the engine. But what, exactly, makes a Hemi a Hemi? We decided to slice into Chrysler’s 21st-century Hemi head and poke around. Click to download the illustration as it appeared in the magazine. Chamber of Secrets “Hemi” is short for “hemispherical,” which describes the shape of the combustion chamber—imagine a tennis ball sliced in two. But from the beginning, Chrysler’s automotive Hemis have been just shy of half a tennis ball, with a section taken closer to the top than the middle. The result is a shallower bowl shape that allows for lighter pistons; a “full” Hemi would require massively domed pistons to fill the larger chamber. Chrysler has never been secretive about this new Hemi’s inspiration: It’s less a riff on the old 426-cubic-inch V-8 and more closely based on the two-valve Porsche 911 head from the 1995–98 model, a.k.a. the 993. Twin Plugs The new Hemi has two spark plugs instead of one because the valvesare too large to accommodate a single plug positioned near the chamber’s center. Two remote plugs met Chrysler’s combustion, efficiency, and emissions goals. Size Matters Exhaust valves are smaller than the intake valves because forcing out spent gasses is easier than drawing in fuel and air. Filled in Unlike the classic Hemi, the new Hemi has part of the bowl shape filled in near the spark plugs. According to Chrysler, these filled areas aid the flow of gasses into and out of the head. And these areas make the new Hemi’s shape much less hemispherical than the original’s. Heavy Breather As in the original, the new Hemi has its two valves arranged on opposite sides of the head. The hemispherical shape of the combustion chamber allows for larger valves than are possible with other designs. And bigger valves permit maximum flow into and out of the combustion chamber. The shallower head of the new Hemi has a 34.5-degree angle between the intake- and exhaust-valve stems. Compared with the new design, both the second-gen (right) and original Hemi have a larger, 58.5-degree angle between the valves, resulting in a deeper combustion chamber....

In terms of performance, things have have changed a lot for the Chrysler Group after the partnership with Fiat. The company’s Street Racing Technology division has returned with a vengeance, leading to a lot of amazing cars like the 300C, Charger, Challenger and Grand Cherokee SRT-8 models. The ultimate expression of performance at the Chrysler Group has always been the Viper though. In the dark days leading up to Chrysler’s bankruptcy, the company tried selling off assets to raise capital. That included the Viper, which Chrysler tried pitching to potential buyers as a standalone brand. It didn’t work out, and the company held on to Viper (thankfully!). After the bankruptcy, many wondered if the Viper would have a place in a new Chrysler era. To show that it did, the Viper’s Connor Avenue assembly plant was the first Chrysler factory to reopen after the bankruptcy. The Viper as we knew it was getting outdated though; very similar to the first generation and not in compliance with upcoming emissions and crash regulations. The answer? An all-new model. The previous generation car was discontinued while a new one is being readied. There has been a lot of speculation about the new Viper, such as the possibility of Ferrari power and platform sharing with Maserati or Ferrari. Executives seem genuinely excited about the car, promising it will be the best Viper yet, with an extra touch of refinement. The Viper never had a lot technology or refinement; we expect these to be areas the new one focuses on. Autoblog reports that Chief Executive Officer of SRT, Ralph Gilles spoke with Viper magazine and confirmed that the next-generation 2013 Viper will be launching this year at the New York Auto Show in April. We’re really interesting to see what direction they take the Viper. From the sounds of it, it will be something pretty special. Related posts: Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles Confirms New Viper Viper Receives a Snakebite: 2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition Dodge To Sell Viper (sob) Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See the rest here: 2013 Dodge Viper Launching This April in New York

Want to be happy with the next car you purchase? You may want to consider something that puts a smile on your face when you climb behind the wheel, like a sports car. In fact, in the sports car segment, you’d be happiest behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 or a V-8 powered Dodge Challenger. The findings come from Consumer Reports, whose latest… See the rest here: Consumer Reports: Sports Cars Are The Most Satisfying Segment

The Chevrolet Volt , a plug-in hybrid that has an advanced but unproven powertrain, is now the top-scoring model in Consumer Reports’ latest annual owner-satisfaction survey . Ninety-three percent of respondents who own the Volt said they would definitely buy it again, making it the highest-rated car in the nationally representative survey. The Volt narrowly edged out the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and the Porsche 911 , each with owner-satisfaction scores of 91 percent. Though the Volt’s high score reflects the excitement surrounding GM’s new electric/gasoline drivetrain, it comes with a caveat. The model had been in showrooms for only a few months when Consumer Reports’ survey was conducted, and it remains to be seen if the score will hold up as the car rolls out to a wider audience and owners spend more time with their vehicles. Still, early adopters of a new technology tend to be among the most enthusiastic buyers. Consumer Reports’ car owner-satisfaction survey was conducted prior to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcement that it would conduct a safety investigation into plug-in hybrid sedans following an incident with a Chevrolet Volt catching fire after being crash tested. “These models reflect a larger trend we’ve seen in recent years: Sporty cars and fuel-efficient cars with alternative drivetrains tend to generate more enthusiasm and loyalty than most other types of vehicles,” said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports automotive editor. For each of the 27 models that got Consumer Reports top owner-satisfaction rating—with at least 80 percent of respondents saying they’d definitely buy the car again—12 were sporty cars or convertibles and nine were hybrids or diesels. Brand nationality doesn’t seem to be a factor among the top-rated models. The 27 models with the highest rating include 10 American, 10 European, and seven Asian models. Audi, Chevrolet, and Ford were tied with four models each on the top list. Consumer Reports owner-satisfaction survey, which drew responses from more than 314,000 subscribers on 2009 through 2012 model-year vehicles, is based on the results from Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research...

The Basics: The Volkswagen Routan minivan is something drivers don’t see very often. It’s a slow seller, for one, but it’s also a pretty pure example of badge engineering, something that’s largely gone away with the demise of Plymouth, Oldsmobile and Mercury. The Routan’s essentially identical to the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town &… Read the rest here:  2012 Volkswagen Routan

After taking a closer look at the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee at the L.A. auto show , we noticed that the differences between it and the standard SRT8 go beyond the cosmetic changes we already reported . We now have a better idea of what’s included—and what isn’t—as well as how much the car will cost. While official pricing hasn’t been confirmed, an SRT spokesperson told us to expect a sticker right between those of a well-equipped Charger R/T and the SRT8. That puts a base Super Bee, we figure, somewhere near $40K. If our hunch bears out, it will be the least expensive SRT8 model from Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge. Here’s a rundown of what’s deleted from a standard SRT8 in exchange for the approximate $8000 rebate: Active exhaust Adaptive dampers (the Super Bee uses regular Bilstein dampers) Forged, 20-inch aluminum wheels (the Super Bee’s 20s are cast) Leather upholstery (the Super Bee gets its own embroidered cloth seats) Navigation (it’s not even optional in the Bee) Heated and cooled cup holders Twelve-way memory driver’s seat (a six-way non-memory seat is subbed in) Heated seats and steering wheel, front-seat ventilation In addition, a few items become optional instead of being included off the bat: HID headlights, automatic dual-zone climate control, remote start, satellite radio, and, oddly enough, paddle shifters. And several regular SRT8 options can’t be ordered at all, including a sunroof, the Driver Confidence Group (rain-sensing wipers, a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, auto high-beams), and the Adaptive Cruise Group (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning). So it turns out the Super Bee is a stripper, offering big Hemi power for less in much the same way the  Ram Express does for Chrysler’s trucks. While some who decide to drop $40,000 on a Charger will surely just pony up the additional $8K to get the goodies, we have no doubt that the lower price will entice more than a few technophobes, purists, and collectors. Lots of muscle at a lower price—consider us on board. Read the original here: Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is Cheapest Way to a 6.4-liter Hemi at $40K(ish) Read the original:  Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is Cheapest Way to a 6.4-liter Hemi at $40K(ish)

Volvo is getting in on the factory performance-upgrade game with a new series of engine-tuning packages for certain T5- and T6-powered models. The upgrades are the work of Polestar, Volvo’s motorsports partner, and are similar to BMW’s performance kits for the 135i and 335i . Polestar’s ECU tweaks crank up the boost, alter throttle mapping, and advance spark timing to give Volvo’s turbocharged inline-five and inline-six engines not-so-modest power bumps. In C30, C70, and S40 models, the T5 produces 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 in the S60 and XC60 stumps up a healthy 300 hp and 325 lb-ft. Polestar’s tuning beefs up the T5 to 250 hp and 273 lb-ft (the same tune was applied to the limited-edition C70 Inscription that recently debuted at the L.A. auto show) . The T6 sees output rise by 25 hp and 29 lb-ft to 325 hp and 354 lb-ft. Volvo R-Design fans will recognize those figures, as they are the same produced by the S60 and XC60 R-Design models. The added power isn’t the only good news: The T5 upgrade costs just $1295 and the T6 $1495; both prices include the reprogramming work. Furthermore, because the tuning is restricted to the engine computer, it isn’t limited to any single car. Thus, the Polestar power boost is available for a wide range of old and new Volvos. Manual or automatic 2008–12 T5-powered C30s, C70s, and S40s can benefit from the software, as can the automatic-only 2011 T6 S60 and 2011–12 XC60s. Aficionados of small, slow-selling wagons in limited configurations, you may now rejoice: The all-wheel-drive V50 with a manual will soon join the approved list. As for the other vehicles mentioned, the T5 boost is already available at any Volvo dealership, and the T6 upgrades begin December 5. Both software packages are fully warranted and Volvo says they maintain factory fuel-economy estimates. Real-world mileage, however, is likely to suffer. Read more: Volvo to Offer Polestar Performance Tuning Packages for Turbo Fives and Sixes See the original post here: Volvo to Offer Polestar Performance Tuning Packages for Turbo Fives and Sixes

Chrysler has announced the recall of certain Fiat 500 and Dodge Journey models built for the 2012 model year. All 340 vehicles affected were assembled between October 24 and October 26, 2011, and may contain contaminated brake fluid. Vehicles in question may have power steering fluid, or a mixture of brake fluid and power steering fluid, in the… Original post:  Chrysler Recalls 2012 Fiat 500 And 2012 Dodge Journey Models

Change this. Change America. Big 3 completely dependent upon trucks for profits, survival These days Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is under fire for his Fiat flop. Last month some dealerships didn’t sell even one Fiat, but I bet they sold a truck load of pickups. Marchionne should have known better. Chrysler and the rest of the Big 3 are defined solely by pickup trucks, PERIOD. And a new study by BernsteinResearch demonstrates just how important pickup trucks are for the US auto industry, and how profits are more important than US energy security. According to Bernstein the Ford F Series has been the most profitable vehicle in the entire auto industry since 1990, followed by GM’s Sierra/Silverado, and Dodge’s Ram trucks. Combined, the Big 3’s pickup truck profits have produced about as much profit as the rest of the top 10 combined. No wonder there are no hybrid pickup trucks. Well, at least none that sell. Sure GM offers some hybrid trucks, but not at a price where anyone cares. How could they? Those pickup truck profit margins are the Big 3’s lifeblood, and the Big 3 isn’t going to squeeze those profit margins with hybrid technology. Fine. It is what it is. But, do these profits really justify the fact that new CAFE regulations, for example, kick the fuel efficient can as far down the road as possible regarding trucks, while also including a review period that could potentially squash any real increases in pickup fuel economy altogether? Obviously, today and into the near future, minimally, the Big 3 simply cannot survive without pickup truck profits. The Big 3 know this. The EPA knows this. Politicians in DC know this. So, where is the honesty and transparency? Why isn’t anyone trying to grab this bull by the horns? Is the pickup truck conundrum just too problematic? The US has a very serious energy problem, and a big part of that problem boils down to trucks. Sadly, maybe batteries and hybrid or plug-in technologies aren’t the fix. Instead, maybe clean diesel is the best option. Or, maybe Boone Pickens is right and natural gas is the smart solution for large vehicles, including pickup trucks in the passenger vehicle space. Nevertheless, isn’t it time to do more than just kick this can another decade down...

One ride in a 1959 Saab started a lifelong devotion. A Saab changed Bud Clark’s life in 1961 when, as a senior at a trade school in Springfield, Massachusetts, he started an apprenticeship in a Saab/Volvo/Studebaker dealership. Clark recalls: “I didn’t like the Saabs. They were ugly, they smoked, and the doors opened the wrong way. The boss sensed that, plunked me in a 1959 customer car, and took me for a ride. Scared the hell out of me; I didn’t know a car could do that around corners—I had a 1954 Mercury. After that ride, I eventually became the head Saab technician there, and I bought my first Saab in 1962.” By 1964, Clark had moved on to work in a Chevy dealership, fettling Corvettes and later racing a Yenko Camaro. He worked on Saabs in his spare time. In 1968, he moved to Southern California where he drag-raced Corvettes and, later, Dodges; but he still couldn’t shake his obsession with Saabs. Keep Reading: Ancient Grease: Cool Saabs Stay Alive in California – Feature See original here: Ancient Grease: Cool Saabs Stay Alive in California, Thanks to Bud Clark Read more here: Ancient Grease: Cool Saabs Stay Alive in California, Thanks to Bud Clark

This wallpaper has a lot of backstory, and to fully understand it you need to be familiar with Sport Compact Car magazine at its prime. Before there were “weblogs” to enjoy cars you had to wait every month for a guy in a funny hat to bring you some paper stapled together, and for most enthusiasts south of 40 years old and outside the Deep South it was SCC . More » Here is the original post: Your ridiculously awesome turbo Miata wallpaper is here [Car Porn] See the original post: Your ridiculously awesome turbo Miata wallpaper is here [Car Porn]

Sure, the LA Auto Show is typically characterized as the “green car” event, but for muscle car enthusiasts, the event is downright exciting this year. On hand at the LA Convention Center are the 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 650-hp Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 . And from Dodge? A couple yellow cars. Sure, the Dodge brand has a history of flamboyant muscle cars, with wild pink, purple, green, and other eye-popping hues from the pre-disco era that have been revitalized through the years. But, when cross-town rivals threw down the gauntlet this week, Dodge turned yellow with its special-edition Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket. To be fair, these cars are still way cool. (And they would be a cinch to spot in a parking lot.) Beyond monikers pulled from the Mopar historical catalog, each is fitted with a 470-hp, 6.4-liter V8 engine whose torque alone can practically push the driver back in time. But 470 horsepower just doesn’t seem as mind-blowing now as it did just a few years ago. From a practical standpoint, is there really a need for any more power? Having had an opportunity to flog recent SRT8 examples on the track, they have not left me wanting for power. They possess all the growl, rumble, and athleticism that one could ever hope to harness in the real world, and they are extremely entertaining on the track thanks to the full-car transformation from the SRT performance mavens. With the heritage nod these special editions provide, perhaps it is fair for Dodge to declare “enough is enough.” Still, that Shelby GT500 is fueling my latest automotive fantasies… Related: Pricing: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 starts at $54,995 2011 LA Auto Show: 2013 Ford Mustang – Freshened styling, more horsepower 2011 LA Auto Show: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with 650 hp Here is the original post:  2011 LA Auto Show: Muscle car competition has Dodge running yellow